JP2000301373A - Machining point illumination device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a machining point illumination device capable of accurately recognizing an image of a machining point without causing any halation phenomenon, improving versability and operability, unnecessitating a retreating means for automation and being not consumed/contaminated by a spattering. SOLUTION: A working head is provided with a converging lens 7 to converge a laser beam to a machining point K, a CCD camera 24 to photograph an image G of the machining point K and an emission part 9 to emit an illumination light S projected from an illumination source 3. The illumination light S illuminates obliquely an optical axis A of the CCD camera 24 from downside of the converging lens 7 through the emission part 9, the machining point K is illuminated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a processing point illumination device, and more particularly to a processing point illumination device for a laser beam machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a laser beam machine, an illumination device is attached to a machining head, as is well known.

[0003] In a laser beam machine, a work head is generally irradiated with laser light from a work head to cut or weld the work to perform predetermined laser processing.

In this case, as described above, a processing point is illuminated by attaching an illumination device, and an image of the processing point is captured by a CCD camera installed in a processing head, and teaching (teaching) before processing is performed. The processing head is controlled via the NC by confirming the conditions, visual confirmation, and the cutting state and the welding state of the work after processing.

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems.

That is, as a lighting device, for example, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1A, there is a processing head 100 provided with a condensing lens 104, in which an illumination light source 101 is provided.

However, in this illumination device, the illumination light source 101
The illumination light 103 from FIG.
The light is guided along the second optical axis. Therefore, when the illuminance is increased, the illumination light 103 is reflected on the surface of the condenser lens 104,
The reflected light enters the CCD camera 102.

As a result, a halation phenomenon occurs in the image of the processing point captured by the CCD camera 102, and the image is blurred.
Not clearly recognizable.

To solve this problem, an illumination device shown in FIG. 5B has been proposed. This device includes a condenser lens 1
The illumination light source 101 is provided, for example, via a mounting member 105 outside the processing head 100 provided with the reference numeral 04.

In this device, unlike FIG. 5A, the illumination light 103 from the illumination light source 101 is not reflected on the surface of the condenser lens 104.
The image of the processing point can be clearly recognized by the CCD camera 102.

[0011] However, the illumination device attached to the outside hinders the processing head 100 from entering a narrow space.
The versatility is reduced accordingly.

Further, the spatters are scattered by the laser processing, and the spatters consume or contaminate the lighting device attached to the outside.

For this reason, the operator must remove the device each time processing is performed, and at the time of teaching, the operability is reduced, such as the necessity of installing the device again and adjusting the illumination direction.

Further, when automation is performed using an image processing device or the like, it is necessary to provide a means for retracting an externally mounted illumination device, which is not preferable.

An object of the present invention is to accurately recognize an image of a processing point without causing a halation phenomenon, improve versatility and operability, eliminate the need for a retracting means for automation, and consume and contaminate by sputtering. It is an object of the present invention to provide a processing point lighting device that does not perform the processing.

[0016]

According to the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a laser beam L is focused on a processing point K in a processing head 2 as shown in FIGS. Condensing lens 7 and a CCD camera 2 for taking an image G of a processing point K
4 and an emission unit 9 for emitting illumination light S emitted from the illumination light source 3. (B) The illumination light S is transmitted from below the condenser lens 7 through the emission unit 9 to the CCD camera 24. A technical measure is taken to illuminate the processing point K by irradiating the optical axis A obliquely.

Therefore, according to the configuration of the present invention, the illumination light S from the illumination light source 3 is transmitted from below the condenser lens 7 to the CCD camera 24
Is irradiated at a predetermined angle θ with the optical axis A of FIG.
The illumination light S is not reflected by the condenser lens 7, and therefore, even if the illuminance is increased, the CCD camera 24 can accurately recognize the image of the processing point K without causing a halation phenomenon.

Also, because of the internal illumination, there are no projections around the nozzle 19, the illumination device does not interfere, the processing head 2 can enter into a narrow space, and the versatility is improved, and The removal work and the adjustment work of the illumination direction at the time of teaching are not required, so that the operability is improved, and the apparatus is protected from being worn or stained due to spatter or the like.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings according to embodiments.

FIG. 1 is an overall view of an embodiment of the present invention.
The processing head 2 has a case 25.

A nozzle 19 is attached to the front end of the case 25, and an optical fiber 26 is connected to a base end of the case 25. The optical fiber 26 is connected to a laser (for example, a YAG laser) oscillator 27.

In the case 25, the protective glass 20, the condenser lens 7, and the collimator lens 23 are arranged coaxially with each other in order from the bottom.

The condensing lens 7 is a lens for condensing the processing laser light L at the processing point K, and is, for example, a plano-convex lens as shown in the figure.

The surface of the condenser lens 7 is coated with an anti-reflection coating so that the laser light L is hardly reflected.

The protective glass 20 is provided below the condenser lens 7 and has a function of protecting the condenser lens 7 from spatter or the like scattered during processing.

The collimator lens 23 is disposed above the condenser lens 7 and turns the laser light L oscillated from the laser oscillator 27 and guided inside the optical fiber 26 into parallel light, which is incident on the condenser lens 7. Let it.

The condenser lens 7 and the collimating lens 2
3, an image reflection mirror 21 is disposed, and beside the image reflection mirror 21 (FIG. 1), an image reflection mirror 22 is provided.
Is arranged.

A CCD camera 24 is provided above the image reflection mirror 22.

Further, the image reflecting mirrors 21 and 22
It can be retracted during processing.

With this configuration, at the time of teaching, the image reflection mirrors 21 and 22 (FIG. 1) are previously moved to the condenser lens 7 side.

In this state, the image G of the processing point K illuminated by the processing point illuminating device, which will be described later, passes through the protective glass 20 and the condenser lens 7 and is reflected leftward by the image reflection mirror 21. Further, the light is reflected upward by the image reflection mirror 22 and is incident on the CCD camera 24.

At the time of processing, the image reflecting mirror 21,
22 (FIG. 1) is previously moved to the CCD camera 24 side and retracted.

In this state, the laser light L guided in the optical fiber 26 passes through the collimator lens 23, becomes parallel light, enters the condenser lens 7, and reaches the processing point K via the protective glass 20. The laser beam is condensed and a predetermined laser processing is performed on the work W.

On the other hand, below the case 25 of the processing head 2, there is provided an emission section 9 for emitting the illumination light S emitted from the illumination light source 3, and the emission section 9 is provided via the optical fiber 4. 3 is connected.

The illumination light source 3 comprises an incandescent lamp (for example, a halogen lamp), an LED or the like.

With this configuration, the illumination light S guided through the optical fiber 4 is radiated obliquely from below the condenser lens 7 to the optical axis A of the CCD camera 24 via the emission section 9. It has become.

In this case, the emission section 9 is disposed horizontally, for example, outside the condenser lens 7 and the protective glass 20 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, a part of the emission part 9 protrudes outward from the lower part of the case 25 and a part of the emission part 9 enters the case 25. A reflection mirror 8 is mounted between the condenser lens 7 and the protective glass 20 via a bolt 10 in front of 9A.

With this configuration, the illuminating light S guided in the optical fiber 4 (FIG. 2) passes through the horizontally arranged emission section 9 and is emitted from its front end face 9A, and is reflected by the front. The light is reflected downward by the mirror 8.

Therefore, the reflected illumination light S passes through the protective glass 20 and is applied to the processing point K obliquely with respect to the optical axis A of the CCD camera 24.

In this case, the illumination light S is transmitted from the CCD camera 24
Is irradiated to the processing point K at a predetermined angle θ with respect to the optical axis A (FIG. 1), so that the illumination light S almost reaches the processing point K without being reflected by the condenser lens 7.

Therefore, even if the illuminance is increased, the CCD camera 24 can accurately recognize the image of the processing point K without causing the halation phenomenon.

If there is a sufficient space between the condenser lens 7 and the protective glass 20 (FIG. 3), the emission section 9 may be arranged obliquely.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, between the condenser lens 7 and the protective glass 20, the emission part 9 is provided with the bracket 5,
The optical fiber 4 which penetrates through the case 25 is connected to the emission section 9 and is attached to the output section 9 at an angle.

The front end face 9A of the light emitting portion 9 faces the surface of the protective glass 20, as shown in the figure.

With this configuration, the illumination light S emitted from the front end face 9A of the emission section 9 is directly incident on the protective glass 20 unlike the case of FIG. 2, and is oblique to the optical axis A of the CCD camera 24. At the processing point K.

Further, even when there is not enough room between the condenser lens 7 and the protective glass 20, when the diameter of the protective glass 20 is larger than the diameter of the condenser lens 7 (FIG. 4), the light emitting section 9 can be arranged diagonally.

That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the optical fiber 4 penetrates through the case 25, and the emission section 9 is connected to the optical fiber 4.

The emission section 9 is provided with a bracket 5,
The light exiting portion 9 extends obliquely from above the condensing lens 7 through the side thereof and the front end face 9A faces the surface of the protective glass 20.

With this configuration, the illumination light S emitted from the front end face 9A of the emission section 9 directly enters the protective glass 20 as in the case of FIG. 3, and is oblique to the optical axis A of the CCD camera 24. At the processing point K.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present invention having the above configuration will be described.

(1) Operation at the time of teaching.

First, the image reflecting mirrors 21 and 22 (FIG. 1) are previously moved to the condenser lens 7 side.

In this state, when the lighting circuit (not shown) of the illumination light source 3 is operated to emit the illumination light S, the illumination light S is guided through the optical fiber 4 and Are emitted from the front end face 9A of the emission section 9 of the light emitting device.

The illumination light S emitted from the front end face 9A (FIG. 2) is reflected downward by the reflection mirror 8, passes through the protective glass 20, passes through the protective glass 20, and is oblique to the optical axis A of the CCD camera 24.
Is irradiated.

As a result, the processing point K is illuminated.
The image G of the processing point K is displayed on the protective glass 20 and the condenser lens 7.
After that, the light is reflected to the left by the image reflection mirror 21 shown in FIG. 1, further reflected upward by the image reflection mirror 22, is incident on the CCD camera 24, and is imaged by the CCD camera 24.

In this case, the illumination light S is transmitted from the CCD camera 24
Is irradiated to the processing point K at a predetermined angle θ with respect to the optical axis A (FIG. 1), so that the illumination light S almost reaches the processing point K without being reflected by the condenser lens 7.

Therefore, the halation phenomenon does not occur even if the illuminance is increased, and the CCD camera 24 can accurately recognize the image of the processing point K.

In the case of FIGS. 3 and 4, the front end face 9A of the emission section 9 is opposed to the surface of the protective glass 20, so that the illumination light S emitted from the front end face 9A directly At the processing point K at an angle to the optical axis A of the CCD camera 24.

Also in this case, the illumination light S almost reaches the processing point K without being reflected by the condenser lens 7.

Therefore, even if the illuminance is increased, the halation phenomenon does not occur, and the CCD camera 24 can accurately recognize the image of the processing point K.

In this way, the image G of the processing point K accurately recognized by the CCD camera 24 is taught by, for example, a robot (not shown) so that the processing head 2 is controlled by the robot at the time of processing described later. can do.

(2) Operation at the time of processing.

At the time of processing, as described above, the processing head 2 is moved and positioned to a predetermined processing point K on the work W via the robot (FIG. 1).

In this case, the image reflection mirrors 21 and 22 (FIG. 1) built in the processing head 2 are moved to the CCD camera 24 side and retracted in advance.

In this state, the laser oscillator 27 is turned on (FIG. 1).
When activated, the laser light L is oscillated, and the laser light L is
The light is guided through the optical fiber 26, passes through the collimator lens 23, becomes parallel light, enters the condenser lens 7 immediately below the collimator lens 23, is condensed at the processing point K via the protective glass 20, and is focused on the work W by a predetermined amount. Perform laser processing.

In this case, since the processing point illumination device according to the present invention is configured as an internal illumination device (FIGS. 1 to 4), there are no protrusions around the nozzle 19 and even during laser processing. Also, the illumination device does not interfere during the teaching.

For this reason, the processing head 2 can enter into a narrow space, and the versatility is improved.

Also, since it is an internal illumination device, it is stored inside the processing head 2, so that even when automation is performed using an image processing device or the like, no evacuation means is required and laser processing is performed. Sometimes, there is no problem in the state as it is, and there is no need to remove the work, and even during the teaching, there is no need to install the device again and adjust the lighting direction, thereby improving operability.

Further, since the internal illumination device is used, the device may be worn out due to spattering during laser processing,
It is well protected without getting dirty.

[0071]

As described above, according to the present invention, according to the present invention, a processing point illuminating apparatus is provided in a processing head with a condenser lens for condensing a laser beam at a processing point, and a CCD camera for capturing an image of the processing point. An emission unit that emits illumination light emitted from the illumination light source is provided.By irradiating the illumination light obliquely to the optical axis of the CCD camera from below the condenser lens through the emission unit, By illuminating the processing point, it accurately recognizes the image of the processing point without causing the halation phenomenon, improves versatility and operability, eliminates the need for retraction means for automation, and uses sputtering. This has the technical effect of providing a processing point illumination device that does not consume or contaminate.

[0072]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Laser processing machine 2 Processing head 3 Light source 4, 26 Optical fiber 5, 6 Bracket 7 Condensing lens 8 Reflection mirror of illumination light 9 Emission part 10 Bolt 19 Nozzle 20 Protective glass 21, 22 Image reflection mirror 23 Collimating lens 24 CCD Camera 27 Laser oscillator W Workpiece K Processing point S Illumination light L Laser light G Image of processing point K

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A condensing lens for condensing a laser beam on a processing point in a processing head, and a CCD for capturing an image of the processing point.
A camera and an emission unit for emitting illumination light emitted from the illumination light source are provided, and the illumination light is transmitted from below the condenser lens through the emission unit to C
By irradiating obliquely to the optical axis of the CD camera,
A processing point lighting device for illuminating a processing point. 2. The processing point illumination device according to claim 1, wherein a protective glass for protecting the condenser lens is provided below the condenser lens. 3. An emission part is horizontally disposed outside the condenser lens and the protective glass, and illumination light is provided between the condenser lens and the protective glass in front of a front end face of the emission part. 3. The processing point illumination device according to claim 2, wherein a reflection mirror for reflecting light is attached to the protective glass. 4. Between the condenser lens and the protective glass,
3. The processing point lighting device according to claim 2, wherein the light emitting portion is disposed obliquely, and a front end face of the light emitting portion faces the surface of the protective glass. 5. The diameter of the protective glass is larger than the diameter of the condenser lens, and the exit portion is disposed obliquely and extends downward from above the condenser lens by passing the side thereof. The front end face of the portion faces the surface of the protective glass.
The processing point lighting device according to the above.